The Big Chill: How To Find the Perfect Frige
Jun 28 '00
It's a cold hard fact that a refrigerator is one of the most expensive items many people will purchase. A few helpful hints and some cool advice can help you chill out and enjoy your new frige.
Do you Like it on Top? on bottom? or side by side? This is the first key issue when it comes to choosing a refrigerator.
Top is good because it means little ones can't get to the ice cream. It is handy for looking for last year's fish from the deep sea vacation, and it keeps the ice at eye level, so you don't have to stoop all the time. On the other hand, a turkey on the toe from five feet can do some serious damage! Also, if you are handy to the ice, you may be reaching down all the time for things in the bottom drawer of the frige.
Bottom, I don't enjoy. It just doesn't make sense to me to have to bend over all the time like that. It looks weird too.
Side by side is what I have now. The advantages are that you can put the most often used items from both the refrigerator and the freezer at a comfortable level. Also, most ice/ water in the door models come in this option. Unfortunately, side by side freezers are not good for larger items. It is difficult to fit frozen pizza, an ice cream cake, a large container of slushy punch, etc. into the narrow shelves. I often have to tilt larger items to get them in.
Automatic or manual? Ice maker. While a frige is no Honda, this remains an important questions for refrigerator purchasers. Ice can be a key issue in families today. Several divorce decrees have included references to one party or the other refusing to refill the ice trays. I have to admit. I resisted the automatic icemaker. I thought the ice would taste funny. I worried that bacteria could get into the water lines. I didn't want to spend the extra money. My husband insisted and staged a full on fillabuster right there in Lowe's. I relented and will never go back. We ALWAYS have ice!!! Not just ice cubes, but crushed ice and ice water too. Trust me on this one, it is worth every penny of the price. The installation was also much easier than I thought.
Make sure that you put on copper tubing when you install it. It only costs a few dollars. We kept the plastic tubing for two years and it cracked and leaked twice. It wasn't worth the hassle.
Space is key When you are checking out the specs on your potential new refrigerator here are some things to look for.
1. Adjustable shelves that are easy to move. You won't want to readjust every time you go to the grocery store, but it is nice to customize to the types of foods you buy and where you like to keep them.
2. No spill shelves. Glass shelves with a small lip on the edges will catch that nasty blood from the meat, or the milk from the leaky container. You will only end up cleaning one shelf instead of the entire refrigerator.
3. Door storage large enough for two liter bottles. They never fit in the regular shelves so make sure you have plenty of width in the side of the door.
4. Forget stainless steel unless you are a cleaning freak. Stainless only looks good in magazines. The fingerprints and smudges are endless.
5. Make sure the handles are smooth and rounded. No straight edges. Otherwise you will walk by and catch your blouse and rip it.
Finally, the most important piece of advice is get a warranty and get it renewed. It will save you loads of hassle and expense when the refrigerator needs repaired. It is really cheap compared to the cost of one breakdown in which your food spoils. Our frige has gone out twice. Once on New Year's day (they sent a repair lady that afternoon) and once during a hot summer with lots of company. Thankfully both fixes were quick and painless.
Remember, keep your cool and your refrigerator worries will be in the deep freeze.
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ScienceTeacher
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Member: Julie Fulton
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